When Heath Bell looked like garbage on Sunday, Frank Francisco returned serve with three of his own runs. It was like watching a tennis match between Jon Lovitz and that guy from Felicity. Rather than getting the hook by his manager, Frank-Frank was ejected for arguing balls and strikes. The ump should’ve told him, “With your stuff, I wouldn’t have the balls to throw strikes either.” Jon Rauch is next in line here, but, before the ink can dry on his neck, he could lose the job too. Though, I would grab him, in the non-sexual way. Anyway, here’s what else I saw yesterday in fantasy baseball:

Heath Bell – Ozzie Guillen has come to the conclusion that Edward Mujica and Steve Cishek are simply just as awful at closing games as Bell has been, so they might as well go with the guy with the bad contract. So, once again, Bell is officially unofficially your Marlins closer and, as previously mentioned, he gave up two runs on Sunday. I’d continue to hold Cishek and Mujica. Bell needs to either go to the Disgraceful List or do some mop-up duty. Despite the closer craziness, the past week the Marlins have got it done, winning 10 of their last 12 games. A rational person might say to me, “The Marlins have played the Giants, Padres and Astros as of late, don’t get too excited.” I am an irrational person, so it must be their new uniforms!

Giancarlo Stanton – 3-for-5 with a grand slam. Is it just me or are you waiting for him to announce his name is actually Giancarlos Tanton?

Brian Fuentes – Was named the new A’s closer. I literally wrote everything else in this post then came back to this to make sure he was still the closer. If I wake up at 3 AM tonight and stumble back to my office, he may no longer be the closer. He’s on a short leash with a cone and muzzle. If he gets too far off the leash, he doesn’t give his owners rabies, he gives them ERAbies.

Brandon McCarthy – 7 IP, 0 ER, 4 baserunners, 10 Ks. Look at him K’ing people with reckless a-Brandon. McCarthy feels like one of those guys that you can get for cheap in a trade, but could be way more valuable. He’s literally in every fifth comment as a guy people want to drop, and I use the word ‘literally’ metaphorically.

Bud Norris – Got the win on Friday with 6.0 IP, 1 ER and 8Ks. Old James MacDonald pitched 8 innings and also struck out 8 in a pitchers’ duel. And a Bud at McDonald’s is a combo meal in The Bootheel of Missouri.

Bryce Harper – On Friday, he threw his bat at the wall in frustration and needed 10 stitches as it bounced back and hit him in the head. ESPN is auctioning off the bat with the proceeds going to TD (Teenaged Dipshits).

Wilson Ramos – Torn ACL and out for the year. On the positive side, he’s now way too gimpy for kidnappers to lug around.

Danny Espinosa – Got a couple of hits on Sunday, homered Friday and Saturday while adding in two steals. If it’s not obvious and you need me to spell it out, he’s H-O-T.

Henry Rodriguez – 2/3 IP, 4 ER with a massive blown save on Sunday. I shut the game off before the Votto grand slam, knowing it was coming. Then after it happened, I refreshed the box score a few times hoping it would change. It’s a soul-crushing defeat when you know it’s gonna happen, then don’t believe it when it does. Must’ve been what it felt like when Dewey tried to move his stuff into the White House with only a copy of the Dewey Defeats Truman newspaper.

Brian Dozier– 2-for-5 with his first homer. I wouldn’t expect much here; he’s pretty yawnstipating. It’s no coincidence that his last name is French for sleep (not true).

Scott Diamond – 7 IP, 0 ER, 5 baserunners, 4 Ks. Now has back-to-back 7 inning scoreless starts. In AL-Only leagues, he could provide some value if he can continue his low walk-rate and so-so K-rate. But in AL-Only leagues, Bruce Chen is valuable, so take that with a grain of salt, which is a crystal as is a diamond. How’s that for circular reasoning?

Jesus Montero – Hit a home run on Friday against his old team as he punishes New York for trading him to the Mariners. You could taste the bad blood. Mmm… Iron.

Justin Smoak – Hit a homer yesterday and is 6 for his last 12 as he got to hit away from Safeco. Gets Fenway and Coors this week and could be a short term play. Seriously, no kindling with Smoak.

Addison Reed – Robin Ventura is planning on splitting his save chances between Thornton, Reed and Santiago. I think it’s appropriate to call Ventura by his cartoon onomatopoeia name: VenturARGH. And, because Reed seemed like the guy to own, he gave up 6 earned runs in a third of an inning yesterday. To give up 6 earned in a third of an inning is, like a bowling alley that doesn’t cater to dwarfs will tell ya, no small feat. At this rate, I don’t think I’d pick up any White Sox relievers in any shallow mixed league. I need this ulcer? No, no I don’t. If you really need the saves, I’d grab Santiago, Reed or Thornton, in that order.

Chris Sale – 5 IP, 3 ER, 9 baserunners, 3 Ks. When you go for a ‘precautionary’ MRI (something I get all the time!), and you’re moved around to help ‘save’ your elbow, then throw a pretty mediocre start, I think something is wrong and you’d be wise to sell him quickly. But I’m not a doctor, though I did fall asleep while watching a Scrubs rerun last night.

Carlos Beltran – 4-for-5 with 2 home runs and 4 RBIs on Friday and hit his 13th homer on Sunday. He’s doing his best Albert Pujols impression, the pre-Angels Pujols. Yes, it took Pujols to go to the Angels to become mortal. The irony!

Allen Craig – 3-for-5, 3 RBIs and his 5th homer on Sunday, after homering on Friday. Bad enough that he double-dipped on first names when there’s people without one — R. Kelly, “Tell me about it!” But now there’s people out there who can’t buy a homer in their leagues (me!) and this guy now has 5.

Rafael Furcal – 3-for-3 with his 7th steal, while batting .383 on the year. Still think he’s more of an Early Bird Special than a Zombino. You get two Facebook Likes if you understood that.

Lance Lynn – 6 IP, 3 ER, 7 baserunners, 7 Ks. If you’ve owned him all year, you know this is less spectacular than he’s been. Or spectaculess, if you like portmanteaus.

Josh Hamilton – Homerton was 3-for-4 with two more home runs on Friday to bring his total to 17. The first player since Albert Pujols (who?) in 2006 to hit that many home runs in only 33 games. Then he hit his 18th homer on Saturday. 18 homers? I have 31 homers in one of my NL-Only leagues.

C.J. Wilson – Got roughed up in his Texas homecoming by Hamilton and the boys 1/3 IP, 3 H, 4 ER. Then Matthew Modine started screaming “You wanna have another go at it” and Wilson agreed. So, on Saturday, he went 5 2/3 IP, 2 ER, 8 baserunners, 4 Ks. Then on Sunday, he rested. Geez, with the God complex.

Mark Reynolds – Lands on the DL after throwing batting practice on Friday. He said, “I got carried away with what I was trying to do. It just looks so easy to strike me out.”

Xavier Avery – O’s called up their outfield prospect and played him in left field yesterday as he went 0-for-4. Now for the Mystique behind X-Man. He has some speed (and very light power), and will struggle to hit for much of an average in the majors. In AL-Only leagues, he’s SAGNOF.

Jake Arrieta – 3 2/3 IP, 7 ER vs. the Rays. He’s been absolutely clobbered in his last two starts. I’d definitely look elsewhere, since I’m not a huge fan of O’s starters to begin with. My O’s starter face is a straight line for my lips and a slow blink of the eyes. It looks like ‘meh.’

Danny Duffy – Left yesterday’s game with what is being described as “medial left elbow tightness.” Sounds like medial up a different starter.

Alcides Escobar – 3-for-3, 2 runs and 1 RBI. He’s been on and off my teams so many times the elastic is completely shot.

Jeff Francoeur – 2-for-5, 2 RBIs with his first Frenchy fly of the season, or Freedom Fly if you’re still harboring shizz.

Desmond Jennings – Has now missed six games with a sore knee. Instead of day-to-day, they could’ve told us day-to-week. Might’ve been helpful.

Ben Zobrist – Slam and legs with a side of mash (3 hits!) and Elliot Johnson also slammed, legged and mashed. Johnson is 7 for his last 13 with two steals and a homer. Could be a nice pickup if you’re struggling at MI. BTW, if someone asks you if you’re struggling at MI, your answer is IM.

Carlos Marmol – Since the start this year, he looked like Apollo vs. Ivan Drago in the exhibition match. Finally, the Cubs threw in the towel with Marmol’s head landing on top of it and on the Disgraceful List.

Kevin Youkilis – Cleared to swing a bat. Sounds like positive news for a guy at Hedonism after a cliff diving accident.

Will Middlebrooks – 2-for-3, 3 runs, 2 RBIs and his 4th homer. If Youk pushes Middlebrooks to Triple-A, there’s gonna be a letter written to Jimmy Breslin from a Son of Sam Horn.

Matt Kemp – Left yesterday’s game aggravating his tight hamstring. Said he’s going for an MRI, but will only miss a game. Um, well, guess we can hope. How do we get this hammy cured? Because those are delicious.

Juan Rivera – Could miss two months with a ruptured hamstring tendon. Dude, c’mon, the day of rupture isn’t until December 21st.

You know, this whole closer thing this year is just ridiclous. I know that Franky Frank lost his job, but can’t be bothered to pick anyone up, even though I have him on my team. Who cares anymore? It’s all so pointless .

@Blue, YoGa’s peripheral stats have been moving in the wrong direction for the last few years and without an offense to back him up, “W”’s could be more scarce with him….I’m talking lowest total in 3 years.

I wanted to get opinion on this trade I made on Friday.
16 team keeper league. (keep 5). yahoo, roto, 5×5.
my only closers were Santiago Casilla and Dale Thayer. I also have Thornton and Kerry Wood, then picked up Hector Santiago on Saturday too. deep league, almost all 2nd and 3rd closing options are already owned.

I traded Paul Konerko for Kanley Jansen and Carlos Quentin.
(this was also when I thought Quentin would return either by the weekend or this week). figured if healthy Quentin’s power numbers wont be so bad even in PETCO.

after losing Wilson Ramos Saturday night, Sunday I made another trade where I gave up Dale Thayer and got Miguel Montero from a guy who had no closer after losing Mariano Rivera.

Grey : Any thoughts on Brad Lincoln being moved to a starter? Duff man almost screwed the pooch for me yesterday as I only won by 1 QS and 1K and am desperate for a replacement at SP as Ubaldo is still on my staff and I need to have a plan B.

Other options are slim and below at this point as Diamond was even swiped last night but would like to know who you like as options out of the names below.

@WhineSpritzer, if he’s getting hot and reaching some potential, he could be. Kelly has cooled off a bit, Phillips has been nothing short of bleh-tacular all season, and it’s a shallow league where people are stacked so they don’t do trades very well.

@Wilsonian, Espinosa is about as hot as the bra-less 90 year old at Walmart. Dude finally has a 3 RBI weekend and all of a sudden he’s up there with Kelly who had a down week and still nearly matched Espinosa’s week?

No thanks and Ill pass on his .200 BA and 30 RBI year he is on track for.

@2 Cups 1 Braun, I sense some intense hatred for Danny. In all honesty, I don’t like any of them. I’ve been avidly trying to deal Phillips to slot Kelly in at 2nd but no one is biting. I don’t like carrying both of them on my roster, but don’t think I can drop either. But I don’t really expect Kelly to play at this level for long, but I could be wrong. And I don’t really expect Danny to be as completely worthless as he has been all year, either.

Reed didn’t pitch well, but watching Ventura manage a bullpen is like watching that guy on the blackjack table double down when he shouldn’t then do it again just to show everyone at the table that his first stupid move wasn’t really that stupid . . . and, he loses all his money. I mean, Reed is a strikeout guy and Ventura has him load the bases twice on intentional walks, once to get to B. Butler, the Royal’s best hitter. Stupid, just stupid.

@Salty Balty, I’m still holding on to Reed, his outing wasn’t really as bad as the stat line read yesterday. Ventura’s an idiot for forcing him to walk those guys then Stults blew what Reed could have possibly taken care of on his own. Still not cool to see 162.00 in my ERA column.

Some quirky SB leaders so far with Boneface, Schafer and Heyward near the top.

Any concern about Andrus low steal totals (despite his great OBP), possibly a case of the Rangers raking too much? Just wondering if he might be worth shopping as if he doesnt get his chances to get 35SBs, as without those he isnt really earning his corn in terms of fantasy.

Just a thought anyway, with all those mashers behind him, theres no need for Wash to send him right now.

@Grey, The worse situation is Campana batting second, with Starlin Castro behind him. Castro is so undisciplined, that he often swings at the first pitch, failing to give Campana any chances to steal.

I literally yelled at my TV yesterday when Campana got a good jump and practically had second base stolen when Castro reached out his bat at the last second to flick a pitch foul that was WAY OUT OF THE STRIKE ZONE. Just maddening.

I’m looking to add either Street (recently dropped bc on DL) or Bailey to my team, then move then to the DL to make room for another add. Who of those 2 do you like better for the immediate / rest of season?

1) I got that stupid virus scan pop-up thing again this morning when I first tried to navigate to the site. It doesn’t even let the site load, so I can’t relay any info about what ads were up, because I hadn’t gotten there yet. Hope you’re gurus can figure that crap out.

2) Frank-Frank’s epic meltdown-meltdown was pretty amusing. I really thought he was gonna hit-hit that ump (or at least go Robbie Alomar on him). I’m pretty sure Collins had already lifted him when it occurred and instead of heading for the dugout, he went right to home plate to unload some F-Bombs on the ump. I was trying to figure out a way that Stanton could get another AB in that game but figured it was unlikely, well, low and behold a pop-out, a BB and a HBP later, there’s our man. That grand salami was such a BOMB, first pitch, and he bounced it off the unicorn vomit! MIA TV announcer had an enthusiastic, “Light that baby up!” call after the hit. That gave me a good chuckle.

3)

4) Is MLB’s drug testing just a total farce now? Everyone’s going to use the Braun excuse and now Eliezer Alfonzo has gotten out of his 100 game suspension. Kinda silly.

5) Speaking of silly, two walk-off grand slams in one day! And, by two Razzball favorites, that probably made a lot of folks happy. Those two propelled my RCL team to first place this morning! I’m curious if anyone had a truly epic day and had Cruz rostered as well. I’ll be checking out VinWins’ daily RCL stat sheet today to investigate. Thank-you VinWins for making that info available, you do great work man.

I would’ve bet one of my limbs that you would’ve left Wright off this weekend rundown. He had 8 hits this weekend and now is hitting .400. Now, if Wright had 8 hits and then jammed his small toe…he’d have been in this article with a big stamped I TOLD YOU SO!

For you razzball newbies, this is the norm here. If the site didn’t pump up a player in the preseason you will either get a glass half empty view on them all year (if the player is performing well) or a constant stream of “I told ya so” if the player plays poorly. They also cherry pick stats to support preseason statements. There have been several big games for Wright where he’s been left out of an article (we make sure we get Stanton in there though), but I guarantee if Wright endures a 1 for 10 stretch it’ll be mentioned. If he gets hurt there will probably be a whole article saying that you were told to avoid wright. If he continues to chase Ted Williams, most razzball readers won’t be aware of it because they all passed on wright at the recommendation of this site and the articles won’t really mention it because it opposes preseason projections.

In any case, I’m so glad I went against this sites advice and started my draft Kemp, granderson, Hamilton, and Wright (he fell to 2nd half of the fourth, I’m guessing it was a league full of razzball disciples) instead of how all the follower readers on here do (Longoria, Stanton, McCuth, and Zimmerman). Guess what? Zimmermans hurt a lot…seems like Longiria is too. I TOLD YOU SO!

@Timmy Bogar, While I have Wright on my keeper team and am glad he’s started off well, I’d like to point out that his BABIP is a ridiculous .452. His career mark is is .343 so you might wanna calm down a bit big guy. Enjoy the stats while they are there, but expect a regression at some point.

@Timmy Bogar, wow buddy. Chasin’ ole Teddy Ballgame, huh? If you don’t like the advice, then leave. It’s free advice, you get what you pay for. No one on this site does exactly what he says, but it’s nice to have someone help out. And I doubt you’ve ever been to another fantasy site where everyone gets individual responses.

Wright has been playing out of his mind. Grey never once said he didn’t have it in him. He was high on him last year, just said watch the injury bug. Obviously people have noticed since he fell so far in your draft. Doubt that has shit to do with this site. Dude has had every injury under the sun, including a broken back. I’ll admit, I wish I had him over Longoria right now. But I was keeping Longo regardless of what Grey said. And like what bobbo said, you better watch out for the regression. He won’t continue on with his BABIP.

But back to the matter at hand. Part of the reason people like this site is because it is devoid of people like you. If you don’t like the advice, then GTFO. We won’t miss you.

@Timmy Bogar, Yeah Timmy, I can’t believe Grey told us not to draft Wright. He only ranked Wright as the third best 3B right after Bautista and Longo. If he really wanted us to draft him he would have ranked him much higher. His pre-season blurb was full of negative comments like:

“The one non-scientific stat we have to look at is how he’s alternated good power years with bad ones and in 2012 we’re due for a good one.” and

“First fold, his “Just Enough” homers could increase. Second fold, the park’s size may have got in his head and psychologically he may feel more confident about hitting at Metco and end up hitting more homers.”

And those pathetic projections!?!? What sane fantasy basballer would draft a guy who was only going to hit 85/24/100/.290/15>

So yeah, thanks a lot Grey for steering us away from Wright. And by the way, you could have pushed Ryan Braun on us a little harder too.

@Timmy Bogar, Just calm down, take a deep breath, and power down your computer (difficult, I know). Now go to the bathroom and take a shower (or a euro-shower of deodorant and cologne, if you prefer), brush your teeth, throw on a pair of jeans and a decent shirt, and ascend the nearest staircase to exit your mother’s basement. Now walk over (or hail a cab) to the nearest pub/club, have a few cocktails, and maybe talk to a few girls (or guys, if that’s your thing). Everything will be better in the morning, except for the pounding headache. Pop a couple of aspirin and re-hydrate and you’ll be as good as new. It’s at this point that you’ll realize that fantasy baseball is just a game, and Grey and Rudy are two of the best in the business in offering advice and analysis (free of charge as well). The frustration and hate will just melt away. Now go get ’em, champ!

@Timmy Bogar, I think the major point that you are missing here, is that many of us read this site because it is actually funny. The prognostications are just guess work. Any baseball nerd can make guesses as to who will perform well, and many of them got jobs writing boring articles for ESPN and Yahoo. The people that enjoy reading their articles are probably the same people that enjoy listening to the horrific ESPN Mike and Mike radio show. The same type of people that used to write letters saying that the Simpsons was too vulgar for TV. I realize that any site like this is only useful for providing up to date info to help me make my own decisions (guesses), however, I choose to read this one everyday because the main writer (actual comedic writer, not nerd turned journalist) is actually funny. I’ll take a site with 50% correct guesses and is funny over a site with 50% correct guesses but is boring, any day of the week.

In an RCL league, I completed a trade over the weekend that has one of the other managers complaining. I dealt away Lincececum to acquire Nelson Cruz. I’d appreciate any thoughts that Razzball community has on this trade.
Thanks.

@BobbyVCard, Fair trade. We drafted both those guys in one league this year (that team is sucking btw) and drafted Lincecum 3rd round and Cruz 4th round. They’ve both underperformed this season so their pre-season value is close enough to warrant a 1-for-1 trade depending on team needs.

SB are the one category keeping me from taking a firm hold on my league. Would it be outta the question to try and trade Howie Kendrick, for either E. Bonifacio or Elvis? Campara is also also available via the waiver but he’s been cold as of late.
Thanks

What are your feelings on A Gonz? I know in your rankings you said that you could see a chance he could under-perform this year – is this what you were expecting, or are you thinking the power swing return is imminent?

@Oz.J., I liked A-Gonz a lot in the pre-season and we ended up w/ him on a few teams (either 1st round pick or high auction price). Right now, the only thing missing for him is the HRs. His HR/FB is at a ridiculous 4% (previous 2 years 16%, 2 years before that 21%). He’s still hitting doubles (at a 50 double pace) and his AVG is about as expected .290. I’m surprised his power hasn’t translated from the NL/Petco but I still think he’s good for at least 25 HRs by year end along w/ strong R/RBI/AVG. But, if I knew then what I knew now, my target price would be a couple $ cheaper.

I wrote that then went to the Player Rater (http://razzball.com/playerrater/) to quantify. We’ve got him worth $15 vs a pre-season $30. It’s been tough going for 1B value so far – the only top 10-15 guys I see who have overperformed are Konerko and Freeman…

Now that Eduardo Nunez got sent to AAA, I’ve lost my infield supersub. Who do you like out of these guys? Sean Rodriguez, Ryan Roberts, Juan Uribe, Cody Ransom, Elliott Johnson (PT an issue)…Ugh, do you see Nunez coming back soon?

Byrdak or Greg Holland in a holds league? I’m thinking Holland because I own Broxton as well, plus Byrdak only seems to pitch 1/3 of an inning or so each time he comes in so he won’t help my ratios too much.

My league allows 3 acquisitions a week. Last week I wasted them all on the wrong closers: Mujica, Cashner, etc. It screwed me over because Jennings didn’t play at all and I couldn’t get a replacement.

So far this week I grabbed Fuentes (I own Balfour) and Thayer for Cashner. I have one acquisition left.

Allen Craig is available and is absolutely mashing but I’m worried he won’t play everyday either with BerkMAN returning. Should I grab Craig to play while Jennings is hurt? Or should I go with someone more likely to get the ABs (Prado, Markakis available).

Good morning, Grey! Not sure if I have ADD or if I’m trying to be proactive, or both, but there are a few names in my FA pool that have me considering a move. Anyone you can see below that should be dropped for Danny Espinosa and/or Roger Bernadina?:

My only “expendable” pitcher that I could fathom dropping for a bat would be Dale Thayer. I have an irrational love for Jemile Weeks and Schafer (SAGNOF, but I can’t quit them), so I’m leaning towards dropping either Pedro Alvarez or Jed Lowrie for Espinosa. Do I have ADDalvarez and should be holding, or is there a move to be made? Thank you for your ePinion.

@WhineSpritzer, Ha, that was word-for-word my internal monologue on Alvarez vs Espinosa. Alvarez tantalized 10 days ago and sucked me back in (along with many others), so now I’m stuck in that cycle where I can’t stand him but also can’t stand the thought of dropping him before another power binge.

I’m interested in what Grey has to say about it all too, given that his feelings on Alvarez in recent years are hardly a secret. Anyone else?

Points league (HR/R/RBI-heavy scoring). Mark Reynolds was just dropped. Currently have Chris Davis at 3rd, but don’t have a DL spot but could manage a bench spot for a week or 2. Will Mark Reynolds stop being a bum soon? Will the oblique injury be long-lasting? Should I pick him up?

I can definitely understand grabbing Rauch, but considering the Mets are an over-achieving team with a saber-friendly front office (though an old-school manager offsets that to a large extent), they may be in the unique position of actually using their best pitcher as their closer, and that guy is Bobby Parnell. I wouldn’t be shocked if they went either way, but Rauch isn’t striking anyone out, while Parnell is not doing the thing you don’t want pitchers doing this year–walking people. If this team was .500 or below, I’d say it’s almost definitely Rauch, but they’ve been leaning more and more heavily on Parnell lately, and I think the only reason he wasn’t used yesterday instead of Acosta is because he’s had a heavy workload lately (he’d been used both Friday and Saturday).

In one league I have Broxton, Aceves, Janssen and Fuentes now (with Bailey stashed on the DL) and I went straight to Parnell. I’d rather have the guy who’s more likely to run with the job and actually provide secondary value than another lousy saves-first option who isn’t likely to last.

Then again, if he was given the job, Collins would call him into his office to give him the news, but then on the way out he’d probably slip on a banana peel and break his closerbone.

I’d like to replace Boeshe with someone a little stronger. I got offered Austin Jackson for Aceves and Rauch. That would put me in dire straights for saves but part of me thinks that those two might not even be closing long term and Rauch is literally a waiver add I made last night. Would you pull the trigger on this and quasi punt saves or sit tight and tread water until I get the likes of Morse,Longoria and Gardner back? I’m currently in 5th place.

I’m torn. I think Jackson’s mostly for real outside of the average. He’s in a great spot to pile up runs and steal 25-30 bags without killing me in homers and rbi. He may see the bench when my guys get healthy…but he may not.
Aceves and Rauch may be on the waiver wire by then too. That’s why I’m torn.

@Hunter, I know the desire for revenge is strong, but counter offer with what you think would be a serious trade based on his players. He’ll undoubtably refuse, but at least he’ll know not to send you such lowball offers in the future. I actually had someone accept a counter-offer designed to make a point.

@Grey, at what point do I give up on Dee Gordon? SS is covered (Reyes and Lowrie) and I hate eating a bench slot with a base stealer who can’t get on base. And nobody in my league is desperate enough to trade for him.

Grey, Rudy, fellow Razzballers — despite the crisis, I’m fine in saves, 1st in my 5×5 16-team league, thanks in part by staying ahead of the curve because of this site.

But I’m weak in the other half of SAGNOF, steals, and the guy in dead last in saves is among the leaders in SBs. Seems like we should be able to make a deal and so far we’re focusing on Victorino and sending him two relievers in return. Which two would you suggest without leaving my cupboard too bear. Please give a first offer and a slightly more generous offer that still makes sense. My closers:

Frank Frank
Cishek
Henry Rodriguez
Jim Johnson
Brian Fuentes

With the extra roster spot I’ll probably pick up Parnell or Casher and hope fate makes them closers at some point (Rauch is already gone).

Closers are a premium in this league but I am currently getting creamed in W and K’s and ERA (thanks to craptastic closers). Which RP would you drop so you can stream a pitcher? …..understanding that whoever I get rid of will be immediately picked up by another team.

@The Real McCoy, Hard to fathom getting creamed in K’s with that starting rotation! Sure everyone else isn’t way over the innings limit? Anyway, I would try to trade a closer before you straight drop one.

@The Real McCoy,
It’s a h2h league not roto so I can easily see how you are getting creamed in k’s and wins in a weekly league with no innings cap.

If closers really are at a premium and you have 6 of them…somebody in your league is likely needing a closer or two. I’d try to trade 1 for a decent #4 type starter in the Worley,Capuano, Nolasco range. or maybe even package 2 crappy closers for a #4 arm and a decent hitter.

@Adam, Yes. People are streaming pitchers and getting about 9 quality starts per week compared to my 5 or 6 quality starts.

Worley, Capuano, Nolasco, Samajadzija, Scherzer, McCarthy, Milone, and similar pitchers are all available on the wire. I am the only team NOT currently streaming at least 1 pitchers which is why I am getting killed

@Wilsonian, You think he comes in and has issues like last time or will he stick now that he has had another year? Didn’t watch much of him last year so I am curious if he can keep going at the higher level.

@bean, I’m no expert, but I personally feel that when he’s called up it’ll be for good. This Cubs team is going nowhere fast. He has nothing left to prove in AAA. I think they’ll give him every chance to succeed at the Major League level.

This is just a shout out to the asshole keepers on my team that aren’t doing shit…

Fielder, Tulo, JUp. Anytime you guys want to realize that the season started already, I’d really appreciate it. With Longo (and now maybe Kemp) hurting, you might want to pick up the slack. It’s tough when E5 has out-homered you assholes.

i need to drop someone so i can add an outfielder while desmond jennings is out, 13 team 5×5. Who would you drop or would you play an OF’er down till he is back.
Kenley Jansen, Brett Myers, Jonathan Broxton, Lance Lynn, Edward Mujica, Casey Janssen, Rafael Soriano, Brian Fuentes, Daniel Hudson*, Ross Detwiler,

Anyone have thoughts on Marco Estrada? I streamed him yesterday and he had a pretty good start. He’s got a great K/BB this season but looks like he has a case of gopheritis. Luckily yesterday the 2 he gave up were solos.

@ grey, is Michael Brantley turning the corner, 3 of his last four games have been multi-hit?

also, i drafted J. Upton and A. Gonzalez with my first two picks, should I just start drinking heavily now or get stuck on the bad end of a buy low trade? Either way I think some type of whiskey will be involved.

I was offered Sandoval, Melky Cabrera, Rollins and Josh Johnson for Papi, Andrus, Youkilis and H. Rodriguez. I’m thinking it’s a good trade for me. If nothing else I get rid of Youk and get another arm.

@Grey, Thanks. FYI there’s a good article in the Wash Times about Hrod’s blowup. ” Asked if he would go to Rodriguez in the Nationals’ next save situation, Johnson didn’t hesitate.“Yeah,” he said, his sights likely already turning to the team’s upcoming seven-game homestand. “This is just a bump in the road.”

Unlike you I stayed tuned in for the Votto slam. Lost me my lead in ERA and WHIP but got me the lead in RBI, so it was a double sided thing for me. Hrod was complaining about the mound. He also had Heisey down 0-2 for final out and walked him (one was a check swing that could have gone either way). That’s the game tho.

I respect the Hanson suggestion, I actually replaced Hrod with him last night. But that would leave me with only one closer (Putz) and man I don’t trust Tommy vs Joyce, Pena and Zo from the left side. I have benched two CG shutouts so far this year, so I’m not the guy to predict outcomes … also it’s vs Shields. Still undecided!

Grey — I was surprised to find Espinosa still on waivers in my competitive, small-roster 16-team redraft roto league, where I need speed more than power. Is he a better backup 2B/UTIL choice than Aaron Hill?

The other border-line hitters I have are Dirks (who seems too hot to drop at the moment) and Jed Lowrie (he’s cooled down but gives me a backup at both SS and 3B). But if I dropped one of those guys instead of Hill, I’d have two backup 2B, which is probably not wise.

Grey, i hold on to that bum Espinosa all the time and right at the same night i finally cut him for Seager, he starts mashing! What do you think? Would you add him back and lose Seager? Seager looks good at the plate though, much better than Espinosa…

Howdy fellas, I’m in a 12 team holds league with a surplus in closers. I recently posted that everyone was available (except Kimbrel) so I can acquire a reliable holds guy. I have Kimbrel, Johnson, Aceves, Dolis, Cishek, and Rauch. I was just offered Benoit for Johnson. He also has Boggs and Wilhelmsen. Gotta accept this, right? Not much left on waivers right now (Bastardo, Morales, Coke) and I don’t see myself dropping anyone to pick up one of those bros.

Since you have all those closers, I’d grab Bastardo over Rauch before moving Johnson. Rauch is crizzappy, while Bastardo is solid in Ks and WHIP, will get holds all year long, and may end up just as good as Benoit. Surprised he’s available in a holds league, actually.

@Grey’s da man!, Made that exact trade (Lynn for Trumbo) about 3 weeks ago when I finally had enough of Reynolds. Been platooning with Middlebrooks or Lowrie when Trumbo’s out (which really hasn’t been very often), it’s worked out berry berry well thus far.

@Grey, Gotcha, ill give him another week. Have Stanton and Votto on that team, man, what a day yesterday! Very nice to see Votto pick it up. Looks like Trout is outperforming Harper as you said. You think he is a BJ-lite?

Someone wants to give me Hardy for Bonifacio….I am hurting for power and am decent for steals…plus I think I can pick up Campana from under everyone’s noses to compensate for the SB I’m losing with Boni…and his average is better. I’d lose the multi-eligibility of Boni tho.

Grey are you really so concerned about Sales elbow? I was about to drop him today but then i went and watched a clip of his last start and he actually wasnt all that bad. Velocity was absolutely there aswell. I mean considering the whole circus around his role in the team, skipped start, losing timing and routine, rainy day…i think i better hold for right now and wait for his next start to reevalute him.

I just thought I’d tell you this because I’ve told everyone else that I know. Also, very few people have seen the movie “Short Cuts” which you’ve quoted a few times recently, and for that I’m appreciative. What an underrated movie that is. And it’s loaded with star-power.

I have Bruce but I like the upside of Berkman and Ortiz and could use either of them to trade later in year. My team is 4th overall and my hitting is solid. I need some pitching but I figure better to have 2 good players than one. I know Ortiz wont sustain this pace but he should be good rest of the way .Thoughts?

I commented above about my anxiety re: starting Hanson vs TB cuz of the left sided power (they have a bunch of lefties who pound righties). checked Hommy’s splits, my god he is horrific against lefties. 6.10 ERA and .314 BA against lefties, 1.1 ERA vs Righties. More pronounced this year, but has consistently sucked against lefties past two years. So that resolves the issue for me. But he has started looking good (still has tendency to give up stung repeatedly when he tires. O Flaherty bailed him out after three straight line drive hits yesterday) so we’ll see …

Hello Grey. I drafted Howie Kendrick in both of my leagues and he is starting to make Pujols look good. Should I be worried about him?

Related to that, would I be crazy to trade my Votto for Cano? I can then insert Butler into 1B. That would mean that I would start Krispie Young at Util once he comes off the DL. Probably doesn’t make sense.

@yankees2012, Kendrick’s hitting over .330 the last couple of weeks, with 2 HR and an OPS better than .900. What did you expect when you drafted him? True, he’s had a few 0-fers, but he’s also gone 4-for-4, 4-for-5.

Obviously, Kendrick’s not Cano, but I’d rather have Votto than Cano as long as you still have a spot to play Krispie in the OF rather than at the UTIL spot once he comes back.

@Enrique,
True enough. I guess his numbers hadn’t been leaving an impression. I would feel better with a little more consistency, especially in H2H, but he ain’t bad. Apparently I now have a spot with Jennings on the DL.

My infield of Kendrick, Cozart and A-Roid doesn’t seem to be producing at any sort of consistent rate any my H2H losses in 2 of the last 3 weeks shows it.

@yankees2012, Late on this, but I own him in H2H and he actually had a pretty good week last week. Think the fact that he went 0-5 yesterday and stranded a whole team’s worth made it seem worse than it was ;-)

@Enrique, You are right about the fact that it could be worse. H2H does change things slightly, but he did actually have a productive week. It just seems like every time I watch him lately on the MLB Channel, he doesn’t do much.

I just got offered Greinke for Asdrubal. This would leave my infield looking like Pujols, Kelly Jo, Aviles, E5, with Cozart at MI and Middlebrooks at CI. Try to get him to throw in Hardy and include one of the closers mentioned in comment #106? (Maybe Dolis or Aceves?) Or just take the deal as is?

10 team H2H, this week my opponent is punting saves (unless Sale somehow ends up in the pen again ha). Should I bench Robertson, Downs and/or Marshall once I get a save? Or am I just overreacting to the closepocalypse?

Once again, it seems that 1 of your advertisers are trying to get our computers with BS. This is the 2nd time my antivirus has given me this warning, both times on your site (and I’ve been on plenty others in the meantime).

am watching the detweiler game .
saw the kid’s 1st homer .
other side of the coin : an hour and 20 minutes into the professional career
of sandy leon (c) , he gets bowled over and loses a knee (maybe caused by an espinosa short-bouncer on the throw , but he also took a nice forearm to the face)

anyway , after watching y.a. start 2 for 2 , i think that it’s time to give Steve some props for the role that he has played in helping y.a. raise his average up 50 points .

@chata, What’s that horrible screeching sound? Oh, it’s the notion that a player plays well when picked up by Steve straining credulity! Looks like credulity’s headed to the DL! Tough break…

JK, props to Steve for picking up Alonso. I just grabbed him in another RCL. Having watched Alonso hit line drive after line drive right at fielders throughout April, I should have moved faster to pick him up. Guess I’ve let my real baseball pessimism creep into my fantasy decisions.

@royce!, Yeah, I thought twice, if not more about it. It helps that we count OBP, though we also count hitters’ Ks, so that might even it out a little – think I’ve had a 1 in hitters’ Ks every year since I joined this league…

Someone should remind Han Rod that he’s only a temporary closer. He has no business putting up these full-time closer numbers.

Harper now tied for HRs with Pujols. Cheap shot, I know, but I’m pretty sure you’re obligated to praise Big Baby Jesus and slam Pujols whenever possible… especially if you can do it in the same sentence.

Right said Fried! Overcoming the serious handicap of sharing a name with, let’s say, the third least popular Holy Roman Emperor, Christian Friedrich’s putting up great numbers. Oh, wait, it’s against SF.